阅读说明：本技术 包括摄像机的用于车辆的外部观看装置 (Exterior viewing device for vehicle including camera ) 是由 S.梅鲁 于 2018-05-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于车辆的外部观看装置,其包括摄像机(4)和内部隔板(6),该摄像机(4)容纳在具有穿有成像窗口(2)的正面壁(1a)的壳体(1)中,该内部隔板(6)平行于正面壁(1a)且面对成像窗口(2)穿有开口(8)。此外,布置在窗口和开口的周边上的两个周边刮擦器密封件(7、9)界定了滑槽,透明屏幕(10)在该滑槽中在至少两个成像位置之间以密封的方式滑动,在成像位置的每一个中,所述屏幕的不同表面部分(10a,10c)定位成面对成像窗口。最后,用于移动屏幕的移动装置(12、13)适配用于使屏幕在其不同位置之间滑动。(The invention relates to an exterior viewing device for a vehicle, comprising a camera (4) and an interior partition (6), the camera (4) being accommodated in a housing (1) having a front wall (1 a) through which an imaging window (2) is provided, the interior partition (6) being parallel to the front wall (1 a) and being perforated with an opening (8) facing the imaging window (2). Furthermore, two peripheral wiper seals (7, 9) arranged on the periphery of the window and the opening define a slide channel in which the transparent screen (10) slides in a sealed manner between at least two imaging positions in each of which a different surface portion (10 a, 10 c) of said screen is positioned facing the imaging window. Finally, the moving means (12, 13) for moving the screen are adapted to slide the screen between its different positions.)

1. An external viewing device for vehicles, comprising a camera (4) provided with a lens, housed in a casing (1) having a wall (1 a) facing said lens, called frontal wall, perforated by an opening forming an imaging window (2) of said camera, said viewing device being characterized in that it comprises:

an internal partition (6 a) arranged in the housing (1), at least substantially parallel to the front wall (1 a) of said housing, and pierced, facing the imaging window (2), with an opening (8) having a size at least substantially identical to the size of said imaging window (2),

two peripheral scraper seals (7, 9) positioned facing each other on the periphery of the openings (2, 8) provided in the front wall (1 a) and the internal partition (6), respectively, which delimit a longitudinal sliding slot between said front wall and the internal partition,

a transparent screen (10) sized to slide longitudinally in a sealed manner between at least two imaging positions in a chute delimited by two peripheral scraper seals (7, 9), in each of which imaging positions a different surface portion (10 a, 10 c) of said screen is positioned facing the imaging window (2),

a moving means (12, 13) for moving the screen (10) adapted to slide the screen between its different positions.

2. A viewing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen (10) and the moving means (12, 13) for moving the screen are dimensioned for allowing the screen to slide along a back and forth path between two imaging positions: a first position in which the central surface portion (10 a) is positioned to face the imaging window (2), and a second position in which the distal surface portion (10 c) is positioned to face the imaging window.

3. A viewing device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the screen (10) and the chute have longitudinally a cylindrical arcuate shape with a convexity facing the front wall (1 a) of the housing (1).

4. A viewing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the viewing device comprises a sensor (5) for detecting the presence of liquid and dirt on the outer surface of the screen (10), the sensor (5) being arranged in the housing (1) facing the imaging window (2).

5. A viewing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the viewing device comprises means (18) for detecting ambient light, said means (18) being adapted to adjust the detection level of the sensor (5) for detecting the presence of liquid and dirt in dependence on the ambient light.

6. A viewing device according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the viewing device comprises a control device (19), the control device (19) being adapted to cause the means (12, 13) for moving the screen (10) to be activated based on data provided by the sensor (5) for detecting the presence of liquid and dirt.

7. A viewing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the viewing device comprises an ejection device (14) for ejecting a cleaning liquid, arranged to eject said liquid onto an outer surface of a surface portion (10 a, 10 c) of the screen (10) positioned facing the imaging window (2).

8. A viewing device according to claim 7, wherein the front face wall (1 a) of the housing (1) has a recess (1 b) in which the imaging window (2) is provided, the ejection means (14) for cleaning the outer surface of the screen (10) being accommodated in said housing and arranged to open into the recess (1 b) of the front face wall (1 a).

9. A viewing device according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the viewing device comprises a spraying device (15) for spraying cleaning liquid, which is arranged to spray the liquid onto an inner surface of a surface portion (10 c) of the screen (10) located outside the chute in the housing (1).

10. A viewing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a heating device (11) for heating the screen (10), which is servo-controlled by a temperature sensor, so as to be triggered when there is a risk of the formation of deposits of water in the form of fog, frost, snow or the like on the screen.

11. A viewing device according to claim 10, characterized in that the viewing device comprises a control device (19), the control device (19) being adapted to prevent activation of the moving means (12, 13) for moving the screen (10) during operation of the heating means (11) for heating the screen.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an exterior viewing apparatus for a vehicle including a camera.

Background

Vehicles are increasingly equipped with cameras mounted outside said vehicles and intended to assist the driver, such as cameras known as back-up cameras, used in particular in parking and/or back-up operations, as well as panoramic cameras for making it easier for heavy road vehicles to perform operations, and the like.

Furthermore, one development aim is to use these cameras for "rear view" purposes, or in other words to replace the rear view mirrors of the vehicle with cameras housed in a profile shell, with the significant advantage of having a coefficient of resistance that is significantly lower than that of traditional rear view mirrors.

All of these viewing devices must ensure that the images transmitted by the cameras are sufficiently sharp to be reliably usable. Thus, these devices should not be dirty and should be able to be easily cleaned, even automatically cleaned.

As described in patent application WO 2016/116231, the current solution consists in implementing a viewing device comprising a cleaning head and a camera which are moved relative to each other between a cleaning position in which they are adjacent to each other and an active imaging position in which they are spaced apart from each other.

The main drawback of this solution is that the camera stops working when the camera is cleaned. Although such "stop work" can be tolerated when using the camera for driving assistance, it is entirely unthinkable for "rear view" purposes for safety reasons.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to eliminate this drawback and its main object is to provide a viewing device designed to ensure the sharpness of the image transmitted by the camera without having to temporarily stop the camera.

To this end, the invention relates to an external viewing device for a vehicle, comprising a camera provided with a lens, which is housed in a casing having a wall facing said lens, called front wall, perforated by an opening forming an imaging window of said camera, and according to the invention, comprising:

an internal baffle disposed in the housing, the internal baffle being at least substantially parallel to the front wall of the housing and perforated with an opening facing the imaging window, the opening being at least substantially the same size as the imaging window,

two peripheral scraper seals positioned in facing relation over the periphery of the openings provided in the front wall and the internal partition respectively, which delimit a longitudinal sliding slot between said front wall and the internal partition,

a transparent screen dimensioned for sliding longitudinally in a sealed manner between at least two imaging positions in a chute delimited by two peripheral scraper seals, in each of the imaging positions a different surface portion of the screen being positioned facing an imaging window,

means for moving the screen adapted to slide the screen between its different positions.

Thus, according to the invention, the camera is housed in a sealed casing, the tightness of which is guaranteed by a screen that can move inside a chute designed, on the one hand, to ensure the tightness of the casing and, on the other hand, to clean the screen as it moves between its different positions, without destroying this tightness.

The viewing apparatus thus provides a sealed housing containing a camera, the imaging window of which is covered by a permanently clean-keeping screen, allowing the camera to operate continuously whilst ensuring that the transmitted image is clear.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention aimed at simplifying in an optimal way the dynamics of the screen movement, the dimensions of the screen and its movement means are adapted to allow the screen to slide along a reciprocating path between two imaging positions: a first position in which the central surface portion is positioned to face the imaging window, and a second position in which the end surface portion is positioned to face the imaging window.

In addition, in order to reduce the size of the housing considerably, according to the invention, the screen and the chute advantageously have a cylindrical arc shape in the longitudinal direction, with the convexity facing the frontal wall of the housing.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the viewing device comprises a sensor for detecting the presence of liquid and dirt on the outer surface of the screen, said sensor being arranged in the housing facing the imaging window.

In addition, the device for detecting ambient light is advantageously designed according to the invention to adjust the detection level of the sensor for detecting the presence of liquid and dirt in dependence on the ambient light.

Such sensors for detecting the presence of liquid and dirt constitute control elements for managing the movement of the screen, and according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the control means are adapted to cause said moving means to be activated on the basis of data provided by said detection sensors.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spraying means for spraying the cleaning liquid is arranged so as to spray said liquid onto the outer surface of the surface portion of the screen positioned facing the imaging window.

In addition, in order to optimize the size of the housing, the front wall of the housing has a recess in which an imaging window is provided, and an ejection device for cleaning the outer surface of the screen is accommodated in the housing and arranged to open into the recess in the front wall.

Furthermore, advantageously, according to the invention, the spraying means for spraying the cleaning liquid are similarly arranged so as to spray said liquid onto the inner surface of the surface portion of the screen located outside the chute in the housing.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the viewing device comprises heating means for heating the screen, which heating means are servo-controlled by a temperature sensor so as to be triggered when there is a risk of the formation of deposits of water in the form of fog, frost, snow or the like on said screen.

Furthermore, advantageously then according to the invention, the control means are adapted to prevent activation of the means for moving the screen during operation of the heating means for heating said screen, in order to avoid damage to the means for moving the screen when snow, frost or the like is present on the screen.

Drawings

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment. In these drawings:

figure 1 is a schematic top view of a viewing device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the viewing device, shown in one of two imaging positions of the screen,

and figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the viewing device, shown in a second imaging position of the screen.

Detailed Description

The viewing device shown in the drawings is intended to be mounted on the exterior of a vehicle, for example in place of an exterior rear view mirror.

The viewing device comprises first of all a housing 1, in this example in the general shape of a parallelepiped, having a front face wall 1a, a rear face wall 1c and two transverse walls, for example 1d, extending between the two face walls 1a, 1c, wherein the front face wall 1a has a central recess 1b and the rear face wall 1c has a hole 3 provided therein for electrically and hydraulically connecting said housing 1.

Further, the front face wall 1a is perforated with an imaging window 2, the imaging window 2 being rectangular in shape in the example, which is provided in the recess 1b, and a wiper seal 7 (e.g., a lip seal) is fixed at the periphery of the inner surface thereof.

The casing 1 houses inside a partition 6, the partition 6 having the general shape of a U consisting of:

a front inner wall 6a parallel to the front wall 1a of the housing 1, the front inner wall 6a being disposed facing the recess 1b and pierced with an opening 8 facing the imaging window 2, the opening 8 having the same shape and size as those of the imaging window 2, a wiper seal 9, such as a lip seal, being fixed on the periphery of the outer surface of the front inner wall 6a (the face opposite to the front surface 1a of the housing 1) which defines a longitudinal sliding groove with the wiper seal 7,

two lateral inner walls 6b, 6C connecting the front inner wall 6a to the rear front wall 1C of the casing 1 and dividing the internal volume of the casing 1 into three compartments, including a central compartment C1 and two side compartments C2 and C3 on either side of the central compartment C1.

The casing 1 also comprises a screen 10 made of transparent material, such as glass, or plastic material, such as poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which is shaped for sliding in a sealed manner inside the chute delimited by the two scraper seals 7, 9.

Longitudinally, this screen 10 has in the example a cylindrical arc shape with a convexity facing the front wall 1a of the casing 1, and the chute is adapted to move said screen 10 along a circular trajectory.

Moreover, the screen 10 has a length advantageously adapted to enable it to move longitudinally along a go/return path between two positions:

a first position, as shown in figures 1 and 3, in which the central surface portion 10a is located in the chute facing the imaging window 2 and the end surface portions 10b and 10C extend on either side of said chute in compartments C2 and C3, respectively,

a second position, as shown in fig. 2, in which the terminal surface portion 10C, initially extending in compartment C3, is positioned facing the imaging window 2, while the central surface portion 10a and the further terminal surface portion 10b extend in compartment C2.

In view of these longitudinal movements of the screen 10, the viewing device comprises in the example two motorized assemblies 12, 13, said two motorized assemblies 12, 13 being arranged in a compartment C2 of the casing 1 on both sides of said screen 10 for driving the screen 10 by friction. For this purpose, each of these motorized assemblies 12, 13 is formed by an electric motor which respectively drives a friction wheel in rotation.

Furthermore, the sealed enclosure 1 covered by the above-mentioned movable screen 10 is first equipped with:

a camera 4 arranged in the central compartment C1, such that the lens of said camera 4 is aligned with the imaging window 2,

a rain sensor 5 for detecting the presence of liquids and dirt on the outer surface of the screen 10, for example of the infrared sensor type, also housed in the central compartment C1.

In addition, the rain sensor 5 is coupled to a light detector 18, for example a light sensor which is advantageously commonly equipped for present vehicles, such that the detection level of said rain sensor 5 is adjusted depending on the ambient light measured by said light sensor 18.

In view of this coupling, the viewing device is equipped with a processing unit 19, which is normally biased, for example in the case of "rear view", in the door and is programmed to manage the viewing device according to the invention, and for this purpose not only the rain sensor 5 and the light sensor 18 are connected to the processing unit, but also the other devices mentioned above (i.e. the camera 4 and the two motorized assemblies 12, 13).

The sealed casing 1 is also equipped with spraying means for spraying a cleaning liquid, arranged to spray said liquid onto each of the two faces of the screen 10 respectively.

These jetting means first include a first jetting nozzle 14, which first jetting nozzle 14 is arranged to jet cleaning liquid onto an outer surface of a surface portion (10 a (fig. 1 and 3) or 10c (fig. 2)) of the screen 10 positioned to face the imaging window 2.

For this purpose, the spray nozzle 14 is positioned in the compartment C3 so as to open into the recess 1b and deliver a liquid jet in the direction of the imaging window 2.

These spraying means further comprise a second nozzle 15 arranged in compartment C3 for spraying cleaning liquid onto the inner surface of the tip surface portion 10C when the tip surface portion 10C extends in said compartment C3 (fig. 1 and 3). It should also be noted that spray nozzles may be arranged in compartment C2 to spray cleaning liquid onto the inner surface of the central surface portion 10a when the central surface portion 10a extends in said compartment C2 (fig. 2).

The spray nozzles 14, 15 are also connected by a line 16 to a distributor 17, the operation of the distributor 17 being managed by a processing unit 19.

Finally, the sealed enclosure 1 is also equipped with heating means 11 for heating the screen 10, servo-controlled by a temperature sensor (not shown), so as to be triggered when there is a risk of the formation of deposits of water in the form of fog, frost, snow, etc., on said screen 10.

These heating means 11 may be separate from the screen 10 and are for example adapted to ensure that a suitable temperature within the housing 1, and thus also the screen 10, is maintained at a suitable temperature.

These heating means 11 can also be incorporated into the screen 10 and consist, for example, of wires embedded in said screen 10.

Whatever its nature, the heating device 11 is also connected to the processing unit 19, and the processing unit 19 is programmed to prevent the activation of the electric devices 12, 13 when said heating device 11 is operating.

The above-mentioned viewing device is therefore composed of a sealed casing 1, the casing 1 comprising a camera 4, and the imaging window 2 of the camera being covered by a movable transparent screen 10, the transparent screen 10 ensuring, on the one hand, the tightness of the casing 1 and, on the other hand, its cleaning ensuring the sharpness of the image transmitted by the camera 4, which is carried out without interrupting the imaging.